A Positive Word on a Sad Day

This afternoon I was visiting my parents. I was talking with my father, a Godly man who moves in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He operates in the gift of word of Knowledge from time to time. He explained to me that he felt the Lord telling him yesterday that my sister would contact him (she lives out of town). The very next day, today, she did in fact call my parents out of the blue. My father is in tune with the Holy Spirit and this is just one of many examples. He hears very well from the Lord. For this reason, and many others, I take what he speaks to heart. As for dad, he is humble and gives God all the glory, for God deserves all of it!
Now, after telling me that story, he says that he wants to tell me what the Lord has impressed upon him in the last day or so. He said he has been praying for me and felt the Lord say that something good is coming my way. 

I told him "I receive it" and thanked him for relaying God's message to me. I needed to hear that. I am used to hearing a mix of positive and negative words from various sources. The negative ones I hand over to God because I can't carry them! But this word was very positive!

See, my dad did not know that today was the exact day of my divorce, 5 years ago. He knew I was divorced, but not the exact day. Nobody, not even I, was thinking of it. (Read my blog post on here called "Thankful Reflections" from Feb. 19, 2013, to learn my story.)  And after he spoke to me, I suddenly remembered that this is in fact the day my divorce was legal and final. Well over six years ago, my dad knew, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that something was about to happen to my marriage, just before the breakup actually happened. He was prepared when the news actually came to him. God revealed it to him to prepare him to pray. God knew I was going to need it. Again, I take the words of my dad to heart because he is in tune with the Lord.

October 15th has been a sad day these past 5 years. A day of loss and heartbreak and of a world crashing down.

Yet it birthed a new season, out of which was born healing, blessings, music, peace and ministry. Those things were gifts from the Lord that I gave to others out of my singleness. In that way, singleness has been a gift, and a ministry, just as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:7 and throughout the chapter.

Since that time, challenges and trials were there in work, ministry and home life, along with much blessing. And I was grateful. Ups and downs occurred. But I stayed on track and steadfast with the help of Jesus Christ my Lord. God has made improvements in my character and my habits and life. All glory is to Him! Also, I have not dated since the divorce, for reasons I only have partial understanding of. God knows my times and seasons and that is good enough for me.

Spring blossoms- Photograph by Curtis J. Alexander (c) 2008

So as sad as this day is, the Lord has given me a new and powerful word of hope that breathes life into a day like today. God is turning my day around, and making sadness into gladness. I don't know the specifics of the "good" that is coming, and neither does my dad. But I know God IS good, and He is willing and able to bring something good and fresh my way! It truly encouraged me to hear this word today, of all days. I know it was not a coincidence. And it inspires hope.

So I am writing this post now, to agree with the prophetic word given. I am ready for a positive change in my life, a miracle from the LORD. I am ready for something good to bud on these branches that have been thoroughly pruned.

-- Wed. Oct. 15, 2014 8:43PM EST

Man of God Prayer List

Man Of God Prayer List

I would like to invite you. If you are divorced, widowed, or single, and a Christian man, please contact me. I would like to add you to my prayer list. God spoke to me and told me to move beyond my self I must pray for other men. Why? Because I know what they are feeling. I understand the pain of divorce, abandonment, and sudden loss of marriage. I understand what it is to be in ministry and have a wife just give up and walk away. Being faithful is not always easy, but I was in the Grace of God. There are other men like this.

Now, I want to pour my heart and pain into the prayer bowls of heaven for the men God has placed on my heart. My list is up on my wall, and it will be right in the area where I am usually my weakest in the flesh. It will be a two-edged sword against temptation and satan.

Men of God, arise. Jesus has a powerful purpose for you, regardless of what people say or do to you. It does not matter what your status is, or your past. You are forgiven and pure in the blood and grace of Christ. You have a job to do for Christ. Be mighty! That is what He enables you to BE!

Women of God, your purpose is also secure in Christ, regardless of the hurts people have inflicted on you.

Know that I have nothing but compassion and understanding for you all. Faithfulness is sometimes met with abandonment and cheating sadly. Both sexes are both prone to sin. But no matter what, God rewards faithfulness! Be faithful to Christ and His Body. Be faithful to each other. God can forgive those who were unfaithful. Just come to Jesus in repentance and a pure heart.

My divorce will be 5 years old as of Oct. 15. I will resist the temptation to feel sorry for myself. Yes, dating has been non-existent for me. Not sure of all the reasons. But instead of worrying about it, I will arm myself with God's weapons of prayer and praise, in the power of the Holy Ghost and with a deep compassion and tears for the saints. So many faithful men, although not perfect, have been faithful as I was. But they experienced loss. Some are experiencing loss right now and are in the midst of the storm. So I will pray for them.

And bear in mind, this is a no-hold-barred prayer list. As I have experienced deep pruning, and removal of personal flaws, and shaping in my life as a man, so will you. If you ask to be on my list, expect God to shape His character in you, and expect Him to deal with hidden sin in your life. We all have to come to the light. Expect His comfort and healing and love and purpose to be made clear to you. We all have much more to do for Him. I am NOT at my destination and I still need prayer myself. I still have growing to do myself. Pray for me too, please! But thank the Lord He has shaped me more, and delivered me from a lot of my fleshly tendencies. All by Grace. I simply agreed with Him and came to the light.

My No-Holds-Barred Prayer list:
I will pray for men of God on my list. Some of the things I will pray:

- Power to serve God without distraction, and in holiness, by the power of the Holy Spirit, especially for the single, divorced and widowed men of God.
- Power to heal from past hurts/divorces/deaths
- Power to have self control over one's own body by the Spirit of God.
- Power to overcome hidden sins, such as pornography, eye lust, mind lust, or wrongful online chats etc.
- Poweful and Healing, Peace, and Comfort of the Holy Ghost.
- The power to meet a true woman of God and marry at the right time. This may not apply to you if you are single and do NOT desire a wife. I know men like that, but most men do desire marriage. Both paths are perfectly fine.
- Poweful Patience (AKA Cheerful endurance)!
- Powerful Joy (AKA  Calm delight).
- Power to find your identity ONLY in Christ Jesus.
- Power to heal marriages that are suffering right now.
- For separated married men to stay faithful to their wife, even if it ends in divorce (reconciliation is ideal, but it doesn't always happen.) You are not single until either you are legally divorced or a widower. Stay true til the end, whatever end it is! You are not free to date as a separated person, because you are still legally and spiritually bound by your marriage. (This is a very tough test, but by God's grace, I did honour my marriage til the end. I did not date anyone else. When I was separated, I just kept trying to call my wife to take her place beside me.) Now, if you fail, then don't panic! Repent, and let God correct your actions. He will forgive you! Dating is for legal singles only. I was not kidding when I said my prayers are "no holds barred"! We must wrestle the flesh into submission by the power of Christ!  
- For single Christian men to date the opposite sex wisely in Christ, and not be too hurried. And that there will be NO premarital sex or cohabitation (no "Chambering" -see Romans 13:13 in the KJV or Geneva Version). As a follower of Christ, we must honour God's standards. Sex and cohabitation are exclusively reserved by God, for a man and woman who are legally married, and have had the wedding certificate signed by witnesses.
- Power to trust all your unmet desires to Christ and let Him satisfy your soul like no one else can.
- Power to ASK God and BELIEVE God. He will still answer your prayers! The timing is up to Him, but He is faithful always. There is no shame in asking Him for what you desire! Your desires matter to God! Just be sure to honour HIS desires above your own.

And women of God, if you are reading this, perhaps it is time you expanded your vision to start a prayer list for women you relate to. Pray for them every day. Women also have many struggles and you may be just the right person to intercede for them.
 There is no doubt you probably already have such a list.

Men, if you have a prayer list, please add me!

Men in Christ: contact me privately at curtis.alexander@sympatico.ca if you want me to add you to my prayer list. You don't have to give all the details, if you don't wish to. Just tell me what your status is and that you are looking for prayer.

God bless you in Christ!  

Pastor Curtis
Thurs. Oct. 2, 2014, 2:18pm EST

It Is Reasonable To Serve Christ

"I Beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye give up your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable serving of God."
Romans 12:1 (1599 GNV)

Serving God as a Christian believer is the most reasonable thing to do. Afterall, Jesus gave the ultimate gift and died for our sins. And then He rose again and gave gifts to His followers. And it is powerful.

So, God will not ask for a service that is unreasonable. He will always accept the gift that you offer Him if it is done in love, holiness, and in the Name of Jesus.
We all strive to offer the sacrifice of praise and worship. We all offer our time and prayer. We all strive to read the Word and let Him speak to us.

Offering our bodies to God as a living sacrifice is a gift we give to God. It is a holy, pure, and acceptable gift in the blood of Jesus. It is also holy because we make choices to stay pure in day to day living. But being in the blood of Jesus is crucial.
Though we all share similarities in how we offer our bodies as a gift to God, it will also depend on whether we are single or married, and whether we have children or not.

Those believers who are married are serving God by serving their spouse and offering their body to their spouse. And what a gift that is. This most certainly includes the holy union of marital sex. But also goes beyond sex to everyday living. We offer ourselves to our spouse out of our love for God and thus, we help our spouse with any daily task or offer any affection or understanding they may need. That is acceptable and holy to God. A true gift. And the married person also pleases God by taking time to serve Him in the church. But such time is lessened by their responsibilities at home.
You as a married person, are giving to God, and to your spouse, and to your church. God loves a holy acceptable sacrifice, a gift of love and faithfulness.

A single person offers their body to God with the same blood of Jesus and same holiness. Yet there are different aspects: the single person offers their gift to God with more focus on ministry and on blessing other believers in the church. They have more time for that kind of ministry. This is a true gift that you are giving as a single believer: to God and to those God loves: your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Single people typically have more time. It is reasonable to offer that time as a sacrifice and a gift to God and His people.

And for singles with children, they have the time to bless their children, and raise them to believe on Christ and to discipline them to go to church as believers (Hebrews 10:25). That is  a special and precious gift they have: to be able to raise children in holy reverence to God and to show them the value of regular fellowship and service! By raising children, either with or without a spouse, that is another way in which we offer our bodies to God. God loves your children and desires to see them succeed in Him! He is well-pleased with your sacrifice to Him in raising them up. He knows it is not easy. Again, this is a true gift. You are giving it to God and to your children. Also, single parents can serve in the church and teach their children to do the same. Another precious gift.

Whatever you do with your body and whatever gifts you have in your life, offer it back to God as a gift. Serve and lead with your heart stayed on God. We all have different gifts to draw from: time, a spouse, and/or children. But we are all gifted. Christ in our hearts is the greatest gift of all!

The key is this: The gifts we receive from Jesus are not -really- for us... They are for us to give! We give to God and we give to each other. Be holy and be reasonable: serve Jesus! He loves you and accepts you in Himself.

God bless!

Pastor Curtis
Thur. Sept. 25, 2014 5:06 PM EST

All Things New

On Sunday, during worship service, I saw a vision of a Throne, and I saw the side and the rear part of it. And I saw peoples flowing to it. I knew this was a vision of the Throne of Jesus, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Tonight, Thursday Sept. 4th, 2014, without synchronizing it, Pastor Tracy preached about the Throne of God. I thought that was a wonderful confirming word.

Her topic at the service this evening was "Behold I make all things new" from Rev. 21:5 (KJV)
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

If ever there was a time I needed to hear this, it is now. I am thankful for the future, eternal new life I have in heaven. And I am grateful for being made a new creation in Christ right now. I just think that I could benefit from God making something new come of my circumstances. They have been the same for a while now. I felt as if the Lord was saying tonight, "this is a NOW word for you, and I can make your situation new." So that is what I pray. I post this to you as Christian friends of mine, and I want to encourage you that God can make not just YOU and your nature new, but He can also make your situation NEW. He never wastes a season. He makes use of it. But then He changes the season. I feel that it is time for seasons to change. Somehow, in some way. 
Believe God to make ALL things new in His timing! Nothing is left out. All means all. If you need something new to happen, ask Jesus. This word is not JUST for the future. It can and does apply to us as believers right now! 

Blessings
Pastor Curtis

Thurs Sept. 4, 2014 11:50pm EST

What's in a smile?

 Proverbs 14:13 (GNV)
13 Even in laughing the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Ecclesiastes 7:3 (AMP)
 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness.

Proverbs 17:22 (AMP)
A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

I am seeing a pertinent theme here. Healing begins on the inside. Sometimes we are obsessed with outward appearances. Laughter, and smiling is good... when the heart/soul/spirit is happy and healthy. But if your soul or spirit is down, then there is something better than laughter to begin the healing process. Sorrow in Christ will help you recover. Feeling and expressing that sadness is ok and needed before you can regain a sense of joy sometimes. So, laughter and smiles are not the "medicine" here... but the joyful heart behind it that is able to smile and laugh. Forcing a smile is not the answer when you are down.

I for one sometimes get "ribbed" or teased and told to smile more. And it is a bit annoying- I will admit that. After all, I work away, with a cheerful heart and a serious expression, completely content and absorbed in what I am doing. I get misread sometimes even by people who know me somewhat. But I am content. I smile a LOT more than some people do (see the picture below). But even if I don't there is nothing wrong with a serious expression. It is part of who I am. I am sure these fellows would agree:

Newsboys "smiling" for their promo pic.

 There is more to life than smiles. It begins on the inside. Anyone who needs to heal needs Jesus. And it's ok to feel sad and look sad during that process. The Bible says so. It is needed. People don't need to be told to "laugh it off" if they are actually hurting. They need to be allowed to be real and be encouraged to come to Jesus. And a friend might be good to have for support. Yes, emotions should not rule us. We must allow the Spirit of Truth to rule the soul (soul is our mind, will, and emotions.) But that doesn't mean we shouldn't feel or express emotions. We should. As long as we aren't trying to manipulate others with them or draw inordinate attention to ourselves.  And I don't recommend people go around looking grumpy all the time. We should be as pleasant as possible, and always kind and courteous to one another. But we should be real, not actors.

When smiles and laughter don't cut it, sorrow is good for healing. Jesus felt sorrow on earth many times, and can relate personally to you and I when we talk to Him.

I am generally a very happy person. I can see benefits to basically every circumstance I go through, even the not so pleasant ones. But I also attempt to grapple with reality, from a Christian Biblical perspective. So I attempt to be real, yet have a generally positive outlook. After all, Jesus is LORD and He paid for my sins and set me free! I have plenty to be thankful for in that, and in the details of my everyday life. But, without realizing it, I do tend to give a "serious" vibe with my expressions sometimes. That's just the way I am, and God made me this way. I am completely content and happy with how He made me.

So, I am not so quick to judge people based on their smile. Be careful when you assess people. It is not really about the outward smile or appearance.
I know that some people may be hurting, even in their laughter and smiles. And some of the most joyful people do smile and are pleasant, yet they may not have the biggest smile, because they are not trying to impress anyone but their LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Be blessed
Pastor Curtis
Thurs. Aug 28 2014 2:08AM EST

If We Suffer With Him, We Shall Reign With Him

I thank God for suffering. I could not be saved if it were not for the suffering of Christ Jesus. If He did not suffer, we would be lost forever. It is my honour to be reviled or abandonded for the sake of Christ. He suffered all loss so that I could be saved. If we suffer with Him, we shall rule with Him.
---
Mark 8:31-32 KJV
31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
---
Peter could not accept the concept of suffering at first. He did not want his Rabbi to suffer. But Peter did not understand that without Jesus suffering, and dying, and rising again, there could be no salvation for Peter, or anyone else. Not to mention the fact that Peter probably realized that if Jesus suffered, then he probably would suffer also! In his flesh, he did not like that idea!

---
2 Tim 2:8-13 KJV
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12If we SUFFER, we shall also REIGN with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

We are patterned after the pattern Son, Jesus. If we believe and follow God (Jesus), we WILL suffer one way or another at the hands of others. That is because the corrupt world-system hates Christ. It hates light, and it hates anything bearing His Light. There are also other kinds of suffering. I realize that. There is the pain of ill health due to the sinful nature of Adam. His sin caused all of us to return to dust. Our body degrades and dies But Jesus rose from death. We can and will share in this resurrection! Also, there is pain that we bring on ourselves when we do something only to regret it later. There is suffering that has no explanation. But we do not love this life or the "things" in it. We love Jesus. And we forsake all to follow Him. When circumstances are good, bad or ugly, we choose to be His disciples. (See Mark 8:34-35) Will we trust Him in the bad times? It is part of our character training, in becoming more like Him! (See Galatians 5:22-23) We grow more of His fruit/character when we are trimmed and pruned. But we must be as branches, attached to the Vine, Jesus, before we can bear any fruit!

During the pruning season, Jesus sends us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to help us when we do suffer. (See John 14:16)

And if we endure to the end, we will reign with Him. An awesome promise.

There is more to this. What we see and feel matters to God. Jesus felt the same things as us and is a faithful high priest after the order of Melchisedec. And He sees the whole picture. He knows where you are going in Him.

Indeed when I have suffered, I could not see clearly in those moments. But then Jesus comes to me in a powerful, gentle, caring and high-priestly way and reminds me of what I am taking to heaven. I am not taking possessions, money, or "worldly fame" to heaven. I take my character with me. Times of suffering are opportunities in disguise. I say that because I truly have not seen the benefit of my bad times while enduring them.

And yet, When I stand before Him in the judgement, I will be in His blood, and pronounced righteous before His throne. I am redeemed with the precious blood of the Lamb who suffered for me! (1 Peter 1:18-19). And He will also want to see the image of Himself and His character formed in me!

To follow Jesus is to follow His way. And the comfort we receive from His Spirit in those times of suffering is unparalleled. I speak from experience. Simply ask Him.

And as the book of Revelation puts it, suffering is temporary. But joy and peace and freedom is eternal, in Christ! And when we spend eternity with Jesus, we spend it in the very character we formed here on earth while learning to trust Jesus. Quite amazing when you think about it.

Revelation 21:4 Geneva Version
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the first things are passed.

The suffering is part of the pattern, and Christ Himself willingly submitted to this process. The suffering is temporary. It builds fruit in us if we yield to the Holy Spirit. And if we endure the suffering in Jesus to the end, then we shall rule with Him.
Bless you! Be encouraged in Jesus.

Pastor Curtis
Wed. Aug 27, 2014 11:34PM EST

Defy The Negativity of Others with Gratefulness

In defiance of the negativity sometimes confronting me from people or situations, here is a list of the things I am blessed with! I challenge you to do as Paul tell us in 1 Thess. 5 and to give thanks in Christ, in every circumstance! Genuine thankfulness in Christ is very moving to God, and it can help you make a breakthrough in your Character development.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 Geneva Version

¹⁵ See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both toward yourselves, and toward all men.

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray continually.

¹⁸ In all things, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.

²⁰ Despise not prophesying.

²¹ Try all things, and keep that which is good.

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

²³ Now the very God of peace sanctify you throughout: and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body, may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We see that thankfulness is possible in each situation. Even if it is a bad situation. We can still find things to be grateful for. It is God's will for us to do so!

You can make a list. Just read your Bible, look around, pray, and ask Jesus to open your eyes to all that you DO have in life. Once you have your list, thank the Lord Jesus for everything on it. He will receive your gratitude, especially in the midst of trying circumstances. Jesus loves gratitude. It moves Him.

I am grateful for so much.

- I have salvation in Christ Jesus. I believe in Him and confess He is Lord! My sins are forgiven and I am made a part of the Body!
- I am accepted and approved by God in Christ. I am before Him in Love. No threat can overcome the Overcomer. Negative people cannot remove my approval from God because I dwell in His Son, Jesus Christ.
- I have His Grace and Favour, no matter what comes against me, or makes me scratch my head in bewilderment.
- I come home to peace and quiet- I can pray and read the Bible, and relax. I have no strife at home whatsoever. This is something I will always be grateful for. Plus I have a great cat named Tess who loves me and greets me!
- I have work. I work two paying jobs for which I am so thankful for! I am actually gaining financial strength.
- I have friends and family whom I love and cherish
- I am able in Christ to teach and lead others in the Word and in worship. What an awesome privilege it is to be called "pastor". My ministry has survived personal loss and God protected me in many storms. One could say my ministry is a miracle!
- I have a great church family at Church On The GO. It is my honour to serve among. It has been nearly 14 years now.
- I am blessed with many creative abilities which I find freedom and strength in. Music, cartooning, photography, poetry to name some.
- I have known the beauty of marriage and the mystery of its union. I will always cherish the memory. Yet through tragedy, I now know the freedom of singleness and the ability and peace I am granted through this lifestyle.
- I have been granted God's love for others. Yes, this includes even those who are threatening and being negative many times. I may be quiet at times, but I harbour no fear or hatred (by His grace). I just develop love, power and a sound mind, all by God's Spirit. I could not do it without Jesus!! 
- I have been renting my wonderful apartment for a full 9 years now. Still enjoying it.
- I have relatively few bills and expenses.

My list is incomplete, and in no specific order. Some things are big, others are little. Some things are spiritual, others are natural. But all items listed are good, and God is worthy to be thanked for all of it. I will probably think of other things to be thankful for, after I post this.

So! What are you thankful for?

How will you defy the negativity coming from others?

Love them in Christ, be patient in the Holy Spirit, and count your blessings! And don't do evil to those who do evil to you. Follow always after that which is good!

Be encouraged, and be thankful! It is God's will for you in Christ!

Pastor Curtis
Aug. 11, 2014, 11:41PM EST